Linus, who arrived at the academy swiftly, led his forces into the academy from a spot where the Imperial army’s assault was weakest.
He then headed straight for the main gate, where the enemy’s attack was fiercest.
“Climb the walls! Show those Imperial soldiers the power of our magic guns!”
With those words, Linus ordered his troops to scale the walls. He led a force of 500 men, 300 of whom were armed with magic guns purchased from a dark merchant. It was a typical Linus move to use the best equipment available.
“Baron Luvell!”
“Oh, Miss Crawford. I’m relieved to see you safe. Roy also asked me to help.”
“Thank you for the reinforcements. What about Roy?”
“He’s resting in the territory. He pushed himself hard to get here in time.”
“I see…”
Yukina breathed a sigh of relief knowing Roy was safe. The Imperial army was closer than expected, and Roy, who had gone to send a message, might have been attacked.
“The other lords should be moving soon. If we can buy time, we can win.”
“I hope so…”
“Do you have any concerns?”
“For some reason, the Empire is controlling monsters. That’s normally impossible.”
Linus nodded at Yukina’s words, feeling his own suspicions were likely correct. Monsters were creations of the demon race. If the demons were aiding the Empire, it explained the situation. However, Linus kept this to himself since it wouldn’t change what they had to do: buy time.
“Some things aren’t worth thinking about. For now, we need to buy time. That’s all we can do.”
“Understood. Can I leave the command to you?”
“Certainly.”
With Linus’s arrival, the academy’s defenses strengthened significantly. The Imperial army facing them was well aware of this.
“We can’t break through the main gate!”
“We failed the assault on the back gate!”
Commander Bachstein of the Imperial army, leading the infiltration unit, closed his eyes as reports of failures came in. Bachstein was a general who had performed heroically on the southern front and was summoned for this large-scale invasion to lead the infiltration unit. He knew the academy’s strength, filled with elite students from three nations.
“Young people defending their homeland are strong… It seems we underestimated them.”
The academy existed because of the alliance of three nations. Its students understood the significance of the Grand Duchy and were determined to protect it for their own countries. Their morale was high, making them formidable.
“Report! The current commander within the academy is Baron Luvell!”
“The most cunning strategist of the three nations… It was Baron Luvell who entered with the cavalry.”
Regretting not stopping him earlier, Bachstein stood up.
“My magic armor! I will go to the front line!”
“Yes, sir!”
With a skilled tactician in the academy, time was of the essence. Bachstein decided to attack immediately. A figure in a black robe behind him spoke.
“Need help?”
“No, this is the Empire’s battle. Outsiders should stay out.”
“Then I’ll watch and see.”
The black-robed figure left, smiling. Bachstein donned his magic armor and gripped his great sword, ready for battle.
“Who is that?!”
“He won’t stop!”
At the main gate, Bachstein advanced, deflecting magic bullets and spells with his sword. Reaching the gate, he infused his sword with his magic.
“Don’t think this is your exclusive technique…”
“Magic Sword—Explosive Flame!”
With a single strike, Bachstein destroyed the gate and entered the academy. Inside, students from the magic division and Luvell’s magic gun soldiers opened fire. Bachstein deflected their volleys with a swing of his magic sword.
“Baron Luvell, I presume?”
“Indeed. And you are?”
“General Bachstein of the Imperial army.”
“The hero of the southern front. The emperor must be struggling against the three nations.”
“Indeed. But that ends today.”
“We shall see.”
As Linus spoke, Yukina attacked Bachstein. He countered with an explosion, but Yukina blocked it with an ice barrier.
“Tricky… an ice magic sword.”
“Tricky or not… try this.”
Yukina pressed her attack, but Bachstein matched her, fire against ice, in a stalemate.
“This isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“Is it?”
Yukina closed in for melee combat. Bachstein scoffed at the challenge.
“You underestimate me. I rose to power by my own strength and now have magical tools. You stand no chance!”
“Save your breath.”
Yukina’s relentless assault forced Bachstein on the defensive. He remained calm, knowing her intense offense would tire her out. When Yukina paused for a moment, he struck.
“I’ve got you!”
His strike was sure to hit, but Yukina narrowly dodged and blocked his sword with her own. Her eyes had turned golden, using the Sirius Arc to see and avoid his attack.
“You’re full of openings when you attack.”
Behind Bachstein, Annette appeared.
“I never said it was a one-on-one fight.”
“Curse you!”
Annette unleashed a fireball at Bachstein. With the academy already breached, there was no need for restraint. Bachstein, unable to defend in time, trusted his armor and took the hit. The explosion forced Yukina and Annette back, but they remained alert.
“Wow… Imperial generals are tough.”
“Yes, more than expected.”
Bachstein, though scorched, was not mortally wounded. His magic armor had absorbed most of the impact.
“Impressive power from the academy’s elite…”
Removing his ruined breastplate, Bachstein acknowledged the strength of his opponents but remained determined.
“For the Empire’s future, I must cut you down here.”
“You are at a disadvantage.”
“I won’t fall for the same trick twice. I know your magic eyes can’t activate simultaneously with your magic sword. I will counter accordingly.”
As he spoke, a messenger arrived and whispered to Bachstein. His eyes widened, then he nodded and turned to leave.
“Leaving already?”
“Things have changed. Apologies, young talents. Now, it will be a massacre.”
With that, Bachstein and his troops withdrew. The academy’s students cheered but soon understood the reason for the retreat. The Imperial army ignored the academy and continued their advance, surrounding the academy with a horde of black wolves.
